Newfound Gap Road closed due to landslide
BY Joel Davis | (joeld@thedailytimes.com)
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has closed Newfound Gap
Road (U.S. 441) due to a landslide that undercut the road near mile marker 22 between Collins
Creeks and Webb Overlook at 9:40 a.m. Wednesday.
The slide is estimated to be a 200-foot section of road extending 1,000 feet down slope, but the full extent of the damage is not yet known. The closure is expected to be in effect for an extended period of time.
The Park is evaluating the remainder of the roadway, but anticipates Newfound Gap Road will be opened to visitors from the Gatlinburg Entrance in Tennessee to Newfound Gap Parking lot as soon as it is possible. The road will be open to Smokemont on the North Carolina side.
Park staff are working with the Department of Federal Highway’s Construction and Geotechnical Services to evaluate the slide damage and to begin planning for repairs. Additional details will be released as the condition assessments are analyzed.
As of midnight Tuesday, January 15, the Park received 8.56 inches of rain measured at Cherokee, 7.4 inches at Newfound Gap and 6.86 inches at LeConte. Rivers and streams have been running fast and high since Sunday when the rains began. There are currently multiple temporary road closures throughout the park due to high water.
The slide is estimated to be a 200-foot section of road extending 1,000 feet down slope, but the full extent of the damage is not yet known. The closure is expected to be in effect for an extended period of time.
The Park is evaluating the remainder of the roadway, but anticipates Newfound Gap Road will be opened to visitors from the Gatlinburg Entrance in Tennessee to Newfound Gap Parking lot as soon as it is possible. The road will be open to Smokemont on the North Carolina side.
Park staff are working with the Department of Federal Highway’s Construction and Geotechnical Services to evaluate the slide damage and to begin planning for repairs. Additional details will be released as the condition assessments are analyzed.
As of midnight Tuesday, January 15, the Park received 8.56 inches of rain measured at Cherokee, 7.4 inches at Newfound Gap and 6.86 inches at LeConte. Rivers and streams have been running fast and high since Sunday when the rains began. There are currently multiple temporary road closures throughout the park due to high water.
